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AAHSA Visits Baltimore’s Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. October 31, 2008 in Nursing Homes, assisted living, community, housing, long-term care, quality first | Tags: AAHSA, community, Comprehensive Housing Assistance, economic downturn, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg, HCBS, health, housing, Inc., quality first | by Morgan Gable | No comments In a time when the term “aging in place” is thrown around almost as much as the discussion of the “economic downturn,” Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI), which promotes community revitalization in Northwest Baltimore, is far ahead of the curve in terms of providing housing with supportive services. On Tuesday, October 29, 2008, several of our Housing and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) staff took a road trip to visit the nearby AAHSA member. Although CHAI’s funding sources and infrastructure may be somewhat unique (it relies heavily on financial assistance from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation), the organization is one of the leading providers of quality, affordable housing in combination with supportive services that help older adults remain in their communities as their care needs change. CHAI offers affordable senior housing at the Harry and Jeanette truth about enzyte Weinberg affordable housing buildings (multiple buildings with over a thousand units), a small affordable assisted living facility, a “Senior Home Repair” program (helping to make minor home modifications like installing grab bars, wheelchair ramps, etc. to help people remain in their own homes), home ownership educational programs, a rental referral program, and a “Senior Friendly Neighborhoods” program. The “Senior Friendly Neighborhoods” program has been created as part of a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). “Senior Friendly Neighborhoods” is a joint program of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Community Services, LifeBridge Health Systems, and the Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center. This program provides educational programming, transportation services, social work services, and many other services to residents in the Upper Park Heights and Milbrook communities of Northwest Baltimore. Clearly, collaboration has been a major component of CHAI’s success. When we visited, CHAI leadership led us on a tour of the assisted living facility, showed us the “NORC headquarters,” and walked us through a newer, affordable, independent living facility. All of the facilities were impressive and definitely emphasized AAHSA’s Quality First Initiative. CHAI is just another example of how AAHSA’s members are taking the next step, diversifying their services, and caring for people at home and in their communities so that they can remain a viable part of their neighborhoods. To contact CHAI, please visit their Web site or call them at 410-466-1990. October 29, 2008 in caregiving, community, financing long term care, making a difference, politics | Tags: National Family Caregivers Association, National Family Caregivers Month, one voice, The Long-term Care Solution | by Sarah Mashburn | No comments There’s no question that it’s a busy time of year. Whether you’re pulling out your Halloween costume or your campaign button (or both!) it seems like there’s always a party to attend, a candidate to support or a football game to watch. But this year, don’t forget another group to celebrate: family caregivers. November 1 marks the beginning of National Family Caregivers Month. This 15th annual celebration, established by the National Family Caregivers Association , is a time for all of us to thank, support, educate and empower these individuals as they care for our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Speak Up!” I can’t think of a better way for AAHSA members to use their “One Voice” than to honor caregivers and share with their residents/clients, employees, community members and policy makers why they need our support. The NFCA’s Web site features event ideas, sample media materials and other resources you can use to show your appreciation all month long. Here are just a few of these ideas: This is also the perfect time to get involved with AAHSA’s Long-term Care Solution initiative. The initiative’s goal is to have a national insurance trust established that it would make it more affordable to care for elders and people with disabilities. For people who spend an average of $5,000 a year caring for a loved one, I can’t think of a better gift of appreciation. October 28, 2008 in health, health care, long-term care, research, seniors | Tags: elderly, health care, octogenarian, heart surgery | by Craig Collins-Young | No comments Over the past few years, I’ve heard my friends make statements like, “30, it’s the 18.” And while I normally dismiss these comments as little more than wishful thinking, a new study from Canada’s McGill University has me thinking that 80 may very well be worthy of a comparison to a younger age. The study suggests that people in their 80s (and even 90s) are able to withstand major heart surgery, allowing them to live more active lives. In fact, the researchers found that 65 percent of 185 octogenarian patients that had heart-valve surgery were still alive nearly five years after the procedure. Moreover, roughly 90 percent of that figure are, according to the findings, living in an active, healthy manner. “This is an especially important finding because baby boomers will live longer and better than anyone expected,” said Kevin Lachapelle, M.D., a cardiac surgeon. The study is important because many octogenarians are not considered candidates for surgery specifically because of their age, Lachapelle said. And, while some critics question the value of operating on a person so far along in years, the study’s co-author, Rakesh Chaturvedi, M.D., pointed out that because the surgery helps restore the ability to lead active lives in the elderly, it actually helps to keep overall health care costs down. The authors said that a majority of the older patients that receive surgery are able to function on their own and undertake everyday task such as going to the grocery store. What’s more impressive is that the authors found that almost 72 percent of the surviving patients live at home, and only nine percent live in supervised settings (home or long-term facilities). I have to admit that studies like this give me hope that I might be able to live until the ripe old age of 100 (a childhood goal). Perhaps they’ll soon have studies that will show that 100-year-old patients are able to undergo surgery. Maybe 100 will become the new 80. Maybe. October 28, 2008 in financing long term care, making a difference | Tags: nursing home, long-term care financing, Titanic | by Sarah Mashburn | No comments But a Titanic survivor’s historic heirlooms won’t. Why? The cost of long-term care. At two months old, 96-year old Millvina Dean was the youngest passenger on the doomed ocean liner. Millvina’s family survived, and New York City residents gave them a suitcase full of donated clothing to help rebuild their lives. Milivina sold that suitcase some of items from it at an auction two weeks ago so she could afford to pay for nursing home care in South Hampton, England. All in all, the auction raised $53,906. The suitcase alone sold for $18,650. She said it was 10 times more than she hoped she would raise from the event. I hope no one told her it wouldn’t even pay for a year of assisted living here in the states. Eric Schubert with the Changing Aging blog wrote that America’s long-term care financing system has been called the equivalent to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Millvina’s story brings that comparison to life. Let’s stop rearranging and start finding solutions that can make it affordable to care. Millvina Dean October 28, 2008 in housing, quality first | Tags: quality first, senior housing | by Maggie Flowers | No comments
Why should housing providers get involved with Quality First? It’s just for nursing homes, right? While it is a common misconception that Quality First is just for nursing homes, it isn’t true. Quality First is meant for all AAHSA members, across the continuum. Quality First is valuable for housing providers because Quality First: 1. Builds community awareness of senior housing. |